Airbnb Will Mask Guest Phone Numbers From Large Hosts

Starting October 30, Airbnb will give guests, and large hosts and property managers in the US and Canada, temporary phone numbers. Hosts who connect to Airbnb through property management software will no longer see a guest's real number.

The temporary numbers work for calls and texts from the time of booking until two days after checkout. After that, calls go to Airbnb support, which decides whether to share the real number. Airbnb began using the system with a limited number of hosts and guests last December.

The rule applies when the listing is in the US or Canada, host and guest both live in those countries, and their phone numbers are registered there. For other reservations, hosts connected through the API can still find guests' numbers on Airbnb. The temporary numbers do not support WhatsApp, photo sharing or group texts, though Airbnb's own messaging system does.

"We're expanding temporary phone numbers to enhance user privacy and support safe interactions," Airbnb said.

Property managers object

Skift reports that the change also makes it harder for property managers to turn Airbnb guests into direct bookers. James Smith, CEO of InvitedHome, said the goal is for Airbnb to better control the guest relationship and where revenue comes from. He pointed to damage claims, such as a $20,000 garage door repair, as a case where an Airbnb profile alone is not enough.

Merilee Karr of Under the Doormat Group said Airbnb is applying rules designed for amateur hosts across the whole platform. She said this risks alienating professional operators, even as the company pushes further into hotels, where direct guest contact and registration are standard.

Evolve, based in Denver, has told hosts it will share guest contact numbers before check-in. It also warned that door codes based on the last four digits of a guest's phone number will no longer work.

Source: Skift